Invalid-handling apparatus



V. BILLINGS.

INVALID HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1920.

1,385,424. Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

V. BILLINGS.

INVALID HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, I920.

Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Km Bil '8.

VINA. BILLINGS, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

INVALID-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application filed February 21, 1920. Serial No. 360,269.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, VINA BILLINGB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Invalid-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to invalid handling apparatus and particularly to apparatus adapted for use in conjunction with beds to lift and support the patient for various purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the class mentioned whereby an invalid may be readily raised and supported above the bed for the purpose of changing the bedding or for changing the invalids clothing. A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned that may be readily applied to any bed for use in conjunction therewith without the necessity of making an change whatever in the bed itself. Ot er objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists generally in a member supported above a bed and meansfor raising and lowering the same, in combination with means for supporting the patient, adapted to be readily slipped underthe same, and detachably secured to said member. My invention further consists in a device as mentioned in which the patient supporting means comprises a body sling, ahead sling, and a leg support sling each equipped with means whereby they may be readily and quickly attached to the suspending member after having been placed under the patient. Myinvention further consists in a device as mentioned in which one or: more of the slings are constructed to receive a plate of metal or other suitable material to hold thesupporting portion of the sling flat or rigid when desired. My invention further consists in a leg holding device adapted to be substituted for the corresponding sling under certain conditions. My invention further consists in various details of constructions and arrangements of parts all as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

y invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawin s tion anc l in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation of a device embodying my invention, illustrating the same in conjunction with a bed,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the supporting portion of the body sling, portions being broken away to illustrate the construction,

Fig. 4 is a detailed elevation of an element of the suspending member,

Fig. 5is a perspective view of the leg supporting sling,

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the leg holding device adapted to be substituted for the sling,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the same, and, i Fig. 8 is a detail of a portion of the raising and lowering mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings 10 indicates a bed of any ordinary or preferred construction. Suspended above the same is a horizontal, laterally disposed member 11,

This comprises a rigid bar 12 and a plurality of transverse arms 13, the latter being provided with means for attaching the slings thereto as hereinafter described; To

this end these arms preferably terminate in" hooked ends 14. Attached tothe bar 12 by any suitable means, are suspending cables 15 and 16wh1ch pass over sultable pulleys 17fixed above the bed, as' to the ceiling 18. The cables then pass over pul' leys 19 andare attached to the coupling member 20 to which is secured'a flexible member'21. Bearings 22 and 23 are clamped" to the legs of the bed as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and rotatably mounted inthese bearings is a shaft24 to which one end of themember 21 is secured. It isobvious that by rotating the sh'aft4 the member 11 will be' raised.onlowered. In order'to prevent the Weight of the patient suspended on-the member 11 from lifting the bed, I provide a member 25, secured at its lower end as at 26, to the floor 27, and provided at its upper end with a bearing 28 for the shaft 24. This is preferably arranged at about the center of the shaft and thereby not only prevents lifting of the bed, but also prevents bending of the shaft.

One end of the shaft is provided with a forming a part of this specifica pinion 29 which meshes with a. smaller pinion 30 on a crank 31. A ratchet wheel 32 is provided on the shaft 24 on the opposite side of the bearing 22 from the pinion 29, and a cooperating dog 33 is pivoted on said bearing as illustrated in Fig. 8. The operation of this portion of the device will be obvious.

34 indicates the body sling. This is preferably of flexible material, such as canvas, and is provided along its longitudinal edges with casings 35 adapted to receive rods 36. In operation, the member 34 is slipped under the patient after which the rods 36 are inserted in the casing 35. The rods 36 are lon'gerthan the member 34, and to the pro jecting ends thereof ane secured connecting links 37, the opposite ends of which are connected to rods 38 adapted to be engaged in the hooks 14, upon opposite sides of the device. Usually the member 34 may remain flexible but sometime it may be desired to have the same flat and rigid. To this end the member 34 is formed of a double thickness of material by folding the material upon itself before forming the casings 35. Thisleaves an opening at one end into which a rigid plate 39 can be inserted. The open end of the pocket can be fastened by any suitable means such as snap fasteners 40.

The head and legs slings 41 and 42 respectively-are similar in construction to the body supporting member, except that the connecting links 37'-are connected to their upper ends to rings 43 to which are secured chains 44, the links of which are of sufficient size to readily engage over the respective hooks 14. The chains thus provide means for adjusting the slings 41 and 42 vetrically with relation to the body sling. It will be noted that the arms 13 to which theleg sling is connected are longitudinally adjustable on r the bar 12, so as to conveniently accommodate the patients of different height and for a purpose hereinafter described. Suitable means,such as a thumbscrew 45 is provided for securing said arms in adjusted position.

In Figs. G and 7 I have illustrated a devicemadapted to be substituted for the leg sling 42 whenit is desired to 'hold the legs separately, and'this may be used either in conjunction withthe slings 34 and 41 or without the same, as described. As shown in the; drawing this comprises a yoke 46-ad justably mountedon the bar 12, and consisting' ofa palrof arms 47 preferably curved downwardly and terminating in a plate 48 the rods 50 inserted as shown in Fig. 7.

The operation of the several parts will be clear to any one skilled in the art.

I claim 1. A device of the class described comprising a horizontally disposed. member adapted to be supported above a bed. means for raising and lowering said member. a. plurality of transversearms on said member terminating in hooked ends. rods detachably supported in said hooked ends. links depending from said rods, longitudinally disposed rods attached to the lower ends of said links and a flexible member provided with casings to receive said rods, substantially as described.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in. which the last mentioned rods are removably arranged within said casings and detachably connected to the ends of said links as and for the purpose specified.

3. A device of the class described. cont prising clampings adapted to be detachably connected to a bed and provided with bearings, a shaft 'rotatably mounted in said bearings, means for turning said shaft, a horizontal member above the bed and. longitndinally disposed with relation thereto, cables supporting said horizontal member and connected to said shaft, and patient supporting means detachably connected to said horizontal 'member, substantially as de scribed.

4. In a device of the class described, a member adapted to be supported above a bed. and means for raising and lowering said member, in combination with a leg holding device comprising lateral extending arms on said member, and leg encircling loops det'achably connected to the said arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. L. HALL, Gno. 'E. TUCKER.

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